双子
When talking about two siblings born at the same time, you use the word 双子 (futago). This noun refers specifically to twins. For example, if you want to say “I have twins,” you can say 私は双子がいます (Watashi wa futago ga imasu).
You might also hear it in phrases like 双子の兄弟 (futago no kyoudai) for twin brothers or 双子の姉妹 (futago no shimai) for twin sisters. It’s a very straightforward word to describe two siblings born together.
When talking about twins in Japanese, you'll use the word 双子 (futago). This noun refers to two children born at the same birth. It's a common and straightforward term to use.
For example, if you want to say 'They are twins,' you would say '彼らは双子です (karera wa futago desu).' You might also hear it used in phrases like '双子の兄弟' (futago no kyoudai) for twin brothers, or '双子の姉妹' (futago no shimai) for twin sisters. It's a useful word to know when describing family relationships.
When talking about twins in Japanese, you'll use the word 双子 (futago). This noun refers to two children born at the same birth. It's a straightforward term, much like "twins" in English.
For example, if you want to say "They are twins," you would say "彼らは双子です (Karera wa futago desu)." If you want to specify identical or fraternal twins, you would add more descriptive terms, but for simply stating that someone has a twin sibling, 双子 is the word you need.
§ Understanding 双子 (futago)
The Japanese word for 'twins' is 双子 (futago). It's an A2 level noun, meaning it's pretty common in daily conversation. You'll hear this word when people talk about families, schools, or even in news reports about famous twins or events involving twins. It's a straightforward term, so don't overthink it.
- DEFINITION
- Twins.
§ 双子 (futago) in different settings
Let's look at how 双子 is used in common situations. This will help you get a feel for its natural usage.
- At School: You might hear teachers or parents talking about students who are twins.
- At Work: Less common, but you could hear it if colleagues are discussing their families, or if there are twin co-workers.
- In the News: News reports often use 双子 when talking about births, special events, or even in cultural stories.
§ Practical examples of 双子 (futago)
Here are some practical examples to show you how 双子 is used in sentences. Pay attention to the context to understand the nuance.
彼女には双子の弟がいます。
Hint: She has twin younger brothers.
その学校には双子の生徒が多いです。
Hint: There are many twin students at that school.
ニュースで新しいパンダの双子が生まれましたと報じられました。
Hint: The news reported that new panda twins were born.
私の友達は双子を育てています。
Hint: My friend is raising twins.
§ Common phrases with 双子 (futago)
Here are some common phrases you might encounter:
- 双子のお母さん (futago no okaasan): Mother of twins.
- 双子コーデ (futago code): Matching outfits worn by friends (often not actual twins, but looking like them). This is a trendy phrase.
- 双子座 (futagoza): The constellation Gemini, literally 'twin constellation'.
Understanding these common phrases helps you see how 双子 isn't just about biological twins but can extend to concepts of similarity or pairing in a cultural context, especially with 'futago code'.
§ Understanding 双子 (futago)
双子 (futago) means 'twins' in Japanese. It's a straightforward noun you'll hear and use often. This word refers to two children born at the same time to the same mother. It can be used for identical twins or fraternal twins, and for any gender combination (two boys, two girls, or a boy and a girl).
- Japanese Word
- 双子 (futago)
- Meaning
- Twins
- CEFR Level
- A2
§ How to Use 双子 in Sentences
Here are some practical examples to show you how 双子 is used. Pay attention to how it fits into the sentence structure.
彼女には双子の妹がいます。
She has twin younger sisters. (Hint: 妹 (imōto) means younger sister)
双子の赤ちゃんはとてもかわいいです。
Twin babies are very cute. (Hint: 赤ちゃん (akachan) means baby)
彼らは双子なので、よく間違えられます。
Since they are twins, they are often mistaken for each other. (Hint: 間違えられる (machigaerareru) means to be mistaken)
§ Similar Words and When to Use 双子
While 双子 is the most common and direct way to say 'twins', let's look at a few related terms and clear up any potential confusion.
- 双生児 (sōseiji): This is a more formal or clinical term for 'twins'. You might see it in medical contexts or more formal writing. In daily conversation, people almost always use 双子. Think of it like the difference between 'siblings' and 'brothers/sisters' – one is more general/formal.
- 一卵性双生児 (ichiransei sōseiji): This specifically means 'identical twins'. 「一卵性」 (ichiransei) means 'monozygotic' or 'from one egg'. While 双生児 is part of this longer phrase, you would usually just use 双子 unless you need to specify 'identical'.
- 二卵性双生児 (niransei sōseiji): This means 'fraternal twins' or 'non-identical twins'. 「二卵性」 (niransei) means 'dizygotic' or 'from two eggs'. Again, for general conversation, 双子 is sufficient.
When to use 双子:
Always use 双子 for everyday conversations about twins. It's natural, friendly, and everyone understands it. Whether you're talking about your twin friends, your twin siblings, or a celebrity with twins, 双子 is the word you'll reach for.
私の友達には双子がいます。
My friend has twins. (Hint: 友達 (tomodachi) means friend)
When to consider alternatives:
You would only use 双生児 or the more specific terms (一卵性双生児, 二卵性双生児) if you need to be very precise, for example, in a medical discussion, a scientific paper, or if you're specifically clarifying the type of twins. For language learners, sticking with 双子 for almost all situations is the best and most practical approach.
How Formal Is It?
"彼らは双生児として生まれました。"
"私の姉妹は双子です。"
"あの双子ちゃん、すごくかわいいね。"
"ふたごの赤ちゃんが生まれたよ！"
Exemples par niveau
双子の兄弟がいます。
I have twin brothers.
います (imasu) means 'to have' or 'to be' for living things.
彼女は双子の姉妹です。
She is a twin sister.
姉妹 (shimai) means 'sisters'.
私の友達に双子がいます。
My friend has twins.
友達 (tomodachi) means 'friend'.
双子の赤ちゃんはとてもかわいいです。
Twin babies are very cute.
赤ちゃん (akachan) means 'baby'.
彼らは双子なので、よく似ています。
They are twins, so they look alike.
よく似ています (yoku niteimasu) means 'look very similar'.
双子の誕生日パーティーに行きました。
I went to a twin's birthday party.
誕生日 (tanjōbi) means 'birthday'.
双子を見分けるのは難しいです。
It's difficult to tell twins apart.
見分ける (miwakeru) means 'to distinguish' or 'to tell apart'.
双子の親は大変です。
Parents of twins have a tough time.
親 (oya) means 'parent(s)'.
Souvent confondu avec
This means 'siblings' (brothers and sisters). While twins are siblings, 兄弟 is a broader term. 双子 specifies they are twins.
This means 'sisters'. Similar to 兄弟, this is a general term for female siblings. 双子 specifies they are twin sisters if you say 双子の姉妹 (futago no shimai).
This simply means 'two people'. It does not imply any familial relationship or being born at the same time.
Modèles grammaticaux
Facile à confondre
This is a less common, slightly more archaic word for 'twins'. While technically correct, '双子 (futago)' is the standard and much more frequently used term.
二つ子 (futatsugo) literally means 'two children' and can sometimes imply the children are not necessarily from the same birth, though it's often understood as twins. 双子 (futago) specifically refers to children born at the same birth.
昔は二つ子という言葉も使われました。(In the past, the word 'futatsugo' was also used.)
This is a more technical, medical, or formal term for 'twins'. It's often seen in official documents or medical contexts, but less common in everyday conversation.
双生児 (souseiji) has a more scientific or formal nuance, focusing on the biological aspect of being born at the same time. 双子 (futago) is the general, everyday word.
彼女は双生児を妊娠している。(She is pregnant with twins. - This sounds more clinical than '双子を妊娠している'.)
This phrase refers to 'two people who are very similar' or 'two of a kind'. While twins are often similar, this phrase doesn't exclusively refer to twins and can be used for any two people sharing traits.
似た者同士 (nitamono doushi) describes a similarity in personality or characteristics, not necessarily a family relationship or being born at the same time. 双子 (futago) refers to the biological relationship of being twins.
彼らは本当に似た者同士だ。(They are really two of a kind. - Could be friends, siblings, etc., not necessarily twins.)
The kanji 双 (sou) means 'pair' or 'both' and appears in other words, but it doesn't directly mean 'twins' on its own. Seeing it might make learners think of 'twins' outside of the context of 双子.
双 (sou) is a component kanji that conveys the idea of a pair or two of something. 双子 (futago) is the specific compound word for 'twins'. For example, 双葉 (futaba) means 'two leaves/a sprout with two leaves'.
この植物は双葉が出たばかりだ。(This plant has just sprouted its two leaves.)
This is a loanword from English 'pair' and can refer to a pair of anything, including people. However, it's a general term and doesn't specify twins.
ペア (pea) is a general word for 'pair', like a pair of shoes or a pair of friends. 双子 (futago) is specifically 'twins'. You wouldn't typically use ペア to refer to your twin siblings.
この靴はペアで買いました。(I bought these shoes as a pair.)
Structures de phrases
Xは双子です。
彼らは双子です。
Xは双子のYです。
彼女は双子の姉です。
Xは双子ではありません。
私たちは双子ではありません。
XはYと双子です。
私は兄と双子です。
Xに双子がいます。
私には双子がいます。
Xは双子なので、Y。
彼らは双子なので、よく間違えられます。
双子のように似ている。
彼らは双子のように似ている。
Xが双子だと知らなかった。
彼らが双子だと知らなかった。
Comment l'utiliser
The Japanese word for twins is 双子 (futago). It's a straightforward noun.
A common mistake might be trying to use a separate counter for people, but 双子 already inherently means 'two children' when referring to twins. You wouldn't say something like '二人の双子' (futari no futago) as that would be redundant. Just 双子 is enough.
Questions fréquentes
10 questions双子 (futago) specifically means 'twins'. While you could say 'two children' (二人の子供 - futari no kodomo) or 'two siblings' (二人の兄弟/姉妹 - futari no kyoudai/shimai), 双子 conveys the precise meaning of them being born at the same time.
You can combine 双子 with the appropriate sibling term. For 'twin brother', you'd say 双子の兄弟 (futago no kyoudai) or 双子の兄 (futago no ani) for older twin brother, 双子の弟 (futago no otouto) for younger twin brother. For 'twin sister', it's 双子の姉妹 (futago no shimai) or 双子の姉 (futago no ane) for older twin sister, 双子の妹 (futago no imouto) for younger twin sister. Often, just context makes it clear, or people might say 双子の男の子 (futago no otoko no ko - twin boys) or 双子の女の子 (futago no onna no ko - twin girls) if referring to children.
Yes, 双子 (futago) is a general term that covers both identical (一卵性双生児 - ichiransei souseiji) and fraternal (二卵性双生児 - niransei souseiji) twins. If you need to be specific, you'd use those longer terms, but for everyday conversation, 双子 is fine for both.
A common one is 双子を産む (futago o umu) which means 'to give birth to twins'. You might also hear phrases like 双子の兄弟 (futago no kyoudai) for 'twin brothers' or 双子の姉妹 (futago no shimai) for 'twin sisters'.
The kanji are 双 (sou) meaning 'a pair, both, two' and 子 (ko) meaning 'child'. So, literally, it means 'a pair of children', which perfectly describes twins.
When counting people, you use the counter 人 (nin). So, 'two twins' isn't really how you'd say it. You'd say 'a pair of twins' or 'two children who are twins'. If you're talking about them as a group, 双子 itself implies a pair. If you mean two pairs of twins, you'd likely say 双子が二組 (futago ga ni kumi) - 'two sets of twins'.
No, it's generally not considered rude to ask if someone has twins in Japan, especially if you see two children who look very similar. It's often a point of interest or a friendly observation.
Yes, for triplets, it's 三つ子 (mitsugo), meaning 'three children'. For quadruplets, it's 四つ子 (yotsugo), meaning 'four children'. The pattern continues: 五つ子 (itsutsu go) for quintuplets, etc.
While its primary meaning is human twins, you might occasionally hear 双子 used metaphorically for two things that are very similar or closely linked, like 'twin cities'. However, its most common and direct meaning is human twins.
It's pronounced fu-ta-go. The 'fu' is like the 'foo' in 'foot', 'ta' is like the 'ta' in 'taco', and 'go' is like the 'go' in 'go'.
Teste-toi 60 questions
Write a short sentence saying 'I have twins.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私は双子がいます。
Write a short sentence saying 'They are twins.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
彼らは双子です。
Write a short sentence saying 'My friend has twins.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私の友達は双子がいます。
この人は何人兄弟ですか？
Read this passage:
これは私の家族です。私は父と母と、そして双子の弟がいます。
この人は何人兄弟ですか？
この人は双子の弟がいるので、この人を含めて兄弟は三人です。しかし質問は「何人兄弟ですか？」なので、本人を除いた兄弟の数を答えます。この人は双子の弟がいます。
この人は双子の弟がいるので、この人を含めて兄弟は三人です。しかし質問は「何人兄弟ですか？」なので、本人を除いた兄弟の数を答えます。この人は双子の弟がいます。
花子と太郎の関係は何ですか？
Read this passage:
彼女は双子です。彼女の名前は花子です。彼女の双子の名前は太郎です。
花子と太郎の関係は何ですか？
文章に「彼女は双子です」と書かれているので、花子と太郎は双子です。
文章に「彼女は双子です」と書かれているので、花子と太郎は双子です。
隣の家に住んでいるのは誰ですか？
Read this passage:
私の隣の家に双子が住んでいます。彼らはとても元気です。
隣の家に住んでいるのは誰ですか？
文章に「私の隣の家に双子が住んでいます」と書かれているので、隣の家に住んでいるのは双子です。
文章に「私の隣の家に双子が住んでいます」と書かれているので、隣の家に住んでいるのは双子です。
彼女は___を産んだばかりです。(She just gave birth to ___.)
The sentence is about giving birth, and '双子' means 'twins'.
私のいとこには___の姉妹がいます。(My cousin has ___ sisters.)
'双子' (futago) means 'twins' and fits the context of having sisters who are twins.
彼らは___なので、よく間違えられます。(They are ___, so they are often mistaken for each other.)
If people are often mistaken for each other, it implies they look very similar, which is common for twins ('双子').
その___はとても仲良しです。(Those ___ are very close.)
The sentence describes a close relationship, and '双子' (twins) often share a close bond.
私のクラスには___の兄弟がいます。(There are ___ brothers in my class.)
To have 'brothers' who are the same age and look similar, '双子' (twins) is the appropriate word.
公園で___が遊んでいます。(___ are playing in the park.)
The sentence implies children or siblings playing, and '双子' (twins) fits this context well.
This sentence means 'I have twin brothers.'
This sentence asks 'Are they twins?'
This sentence means 'She has twin sisters.'
彼女は___を妊娠しています。 (She is pregnant with twins.)
The sentence is about being pregnant with two babies, so '双子' (twins) is the correct fit.
私の隣の家にはかわいい___が住んでいます。 (Cute twins live in the house next to mine.)
The context implies two people, and 'かわいい' often describes children, making '双子' (twins) a good fit.
彼らは見た目がとても似ている___です。 (They are twins who look very similar.)
The phrase '見た目がとても似ている' (look very similar) strongly suggests '双子' (twins).
その___はいつも一緒に遊んでいます。 (Those twins always play together.)
The sentence describes two people who are always together, which aligns with '双子' (twins).
私のいとこには___がいます。 (My cousin has twins.)
The sentence implies a plural number of children, and '双子' (twins) fits this context.
___の誕生日パーティーに招待されました。 (I was invited to the twins' birthday party.)
A birthday party for two people who are often celebrated together makes '双子' (twins) the most suitable word.
This sentence means 'They are twins.' The order is Subject + Topic Marker + Noun + です (desu, 'to be').
This sentence translates to 'They are twin boys.' '男の子の双子' (otoko no ko no futago) means 'twin boys.'
This sentence means 'They are twin sisters.' '双子の姉妹' (futago no shimai) means 'twin sisters.'
This sentence means 'Although they are twins, their personalities are completely different.' The order starts with 'they are twins' then contrasts with 'but their personalities are completely different.'
This sentence translates to 'The twin brothers are always together.' The order flows from 'twin brothers' to 'always together.'
This sentence means 'I heard she is pregnant with twins.' The structure is 'She' + 'twins' + 'is pregnant' + 'I heard'.
彼女は双子の妹に会うために故郷に戻りました。
「双子」はtwinsを意味し、「妹」はyounger sisterを意味します。したがって、正しい文は「彼女は双子の妹に会うために故郷に戻りました」です。
双子なので、彼らはよく同じような行動をとります。
「双子」はtwinsを意味し、「同じような行動」はsimilar actionsを意味します。双子はしばしば似たような行動をとるため、この文が適切です。
その夫婦には双子が生まれました。
「双子」はtwinsを意味し、「生まれました」はwere bornを意味します。したがって、この文は夫婦に双子が生まれたことを示しています。
「双子」は一人っ子を指す言葉です。
「双子」は二人以上の子供を指し、一人っ子を指す言葉ではありません。
「双子」は英語で 'twins' と訳されます。
「双子」は英語で 'twins' と正確に訳されます。
双子はお互いに全く似ていないことが一般的です。
双子、特に一卵性双生児は非常によく似ていることが一般的です。二卵性双生児でも似ていることがあります。
This sentence means 'Although they are twins, their personalities are completely different.' The order creates a natural flow comparing their twin status with their differing personalities.
This translates to 'The twin sisters always played together.' The word order describes the twin sisters and their consistent action.
This means 'I'm not good at telling twins apart.' The sentence structure expresses the speaker's difficulty with a specific task.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 彼女は___を妊娠しています。
The sentence means 'She is pregnant with twins.' '双子' specifically refers to twins.
Which sentence correctly uses '双子'?
'双子の兄弟' means 'twin brothers', which is a common and correct usage. The other options are grammatically incorrect or nonsensical in context.
What is the most natural way to say 'They are identical twins' in Japanese?
「一卵性の双子」 (ichiransei no futago) is the standard term for identical twins. 「二卵性の双子」 (niransei no futago) refers to fraternal twins.
「双子」 can refer to both identical and fraternal twins.
「双子」 is a general term for twins, encompassing both identical (一卵性双生児) and fraternal (二卵性双生児) twins.
If someone says 「私の子供は双子です」, it means they have two children who are not twins.
「私の子供は双子です」 directly translates to 'My children are twins,' meaning they have two children born at the same time.
You can use 「双子」 to describe two objects that are very similar, even if they are not siblings.
While primarily used for siblings, '双子' can metaphorically describe two very similar things, like 'twin buildings' (双子ビル).
Imagine you have twin friends. Describe a funny or memorable incident involving both of them. Use precise Japanese to convey the humor or significance of the event.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私の友達に双子の兄弟がいます。ある日、二人が同じ服を着て学校に来たので、先生がどちらがどちらか分からなくなり、一日中名前を間違えて呼んでいました。その光景がとても面白くて、今でも鮮明に覚えています。
Discuss the unique challenges and joys that parents of twins might experience. Elaborate on how these experiences could differ from raising a single child, using sophisticated vocabulary.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
双子を育てる親御さんは、単独の子どもを育てる場合とは異なる多くの課題と喜びを経験します。例えば、同時に二人の赤ちゃんのお世話をする物理的な大変さがある一方で、二人の子どもが一緒に成長する姿を見守る喜びは格別でしょう。それぞれの個性を尊重しつつ、二人の間に生まれる絆を育むことは、親にとって大きな学びとなるはずです。
Write a short story or a reflective essay about a historical figure or a famous personality who had a twin, focusing on how their twinship might have influenced their life or achievements. Analyze the impact with depth.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
歴史上には双子として生まれた著名人が数多くいます。例えば、ローマ建国の伝説に登場するロムルスとレムスの兄弟は、双子という共通の出自を持ちながらも、異なる運命をたどりました。彼らの物語は、双子であることの絆の深さと、それが時に相克を生む可能性をも示唆しています。彼らの双子という関係が、ローマ建国という偉業にどのように影響を与えたのかを考察することは、非常に興味深いテーマです。
この文章が示唆する、双子の研究の主な目的は何ですか？
Read this passage:
科学者たちは、双子の研究を通じて、遺伝と環境が人間の発達に与える影響について深く理解しようとしています。特に、一卵性双生児と二卵性双生児の比較研究は、遺伝的要因の寄与度を明らかにする上で極めて重要です。同じ環境で育った双子と、異なる環境で育った双子の違いを分析することで、私たちは多くの知見を得ることができます。
この文章が示唆する、双子の研究の主な目的は何ですか？
文章は、双子の研究が「遺伝と環境が人間の発達に与える影響について深く理解しようとしている」と明確に述べています。
文章は、双子の研究が「遺伝と環境が人間の発達に与える影響について深く理解しようとしている」と明確に述べています。
この文章は、離れて育った双子の共通性についてどのような疑問を提示していますか？
Read this passage:
双子の中には、遠く離れた場所で育ったにもかかわらず、驚くほど似た趣味や習慣を持つケースが報告されています。これは、遺伝子の持つ力が私たちの行動や嗜好にどれほど強く影響を与えるかを示す興味深い事例と言えるでしょう。しかし、育った文化や社会環境が全く異なる場合、その共通性はどこまで維持されるのでしょうか。
この文章は、離れて育った双子の共通性についてどのような疑問を提示していますか？
文章の最後で、「育った文化や社会環境が全く異なる場合、その共通性はどこまで維持されるのでしょうか」と問いかけています。
文章の最後で、「育った文化や社会環境が全く異なる場合、その共通性はどこまで維持されるのでしょうか」と問いかけています。
文化によって双子に対する見方が異なるのはなぜだと、この文章は示唆していますか？
Read this passage:
多くの文化において、双子は特別な存在として扱われてきました。ある文化圏では幸運の象徴とされ、また別の文化圏では特別な力を持つと信じられていました。これらの信仰は、双子という存在が持つ神秘性や、単なる偶然では説明できない奇妙な一致に由来すると考えられます。現代社会では科学的な視点から理解が進んでいますが、それでもなお、双子に対する人々の好奇心は尽きません。
文化によって双子に対する見方が異なるのはなぜだと、この文章は示唆していますか？
文章では、「これらの信仰は、双子という存在が持つ神秘性や、単なる偶然では説明できない奇妙な一致に由来すると考えられます」と述べられています。
文章では、「これらの信仰は、双子という存在が持つ神秘性や、単なる偶然では説明できない奇妙な一致に由来すると考えられます」と述べられています。
/ 60 correct
Perfect score!
Exemple
彼女には双子の妹がいる。
Contenu associé
Ce mot dans d'autres langues
Plus de mots sur family
還暦
B160th birthday (celebration of completing a 60-year cycle).
〜くらい
B1About; approximately; to the extent that.
認め合う
B1To recognize each other's worth; to acknowledge.
知人
B1Acquaintance.
顔見知り
A2Acquaintance; someone you know by sight.
甘える
B1To be spoiled, to fawn; to behave like a pampered child.
活発な
B1Active; lively; vigorous.
思春期
B1Adolescence; the period of transition from childhood to adulthood.
養子
B1Adopted child; a child taken into one's family by legal means.
養親
B2Adoptive parent.
